OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64856372 1

Requisition No: 844428 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST IV - 64856372 1

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 64856372 

Salary:  $25-$28 hr 

Posting Closing Date: 01/27/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Job posting category Open Competitive 

Pay range: $25- $28 hourly.

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County. If you are looking to establish a successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place. Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida. We hope you decide to join our team!

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

The incumbent is part of a global public health organization and is expected to support the Florida Department of Health in

Monroe County in its mission to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts and its vision to be the Healthiest State in the Nation.  Furthermore, the incumbent is expected to incorporate the agency values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness and Excellence in all aspects of their work.

This position serves as an epidemiologist for the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County. This position will conduct disease surveillance and reporting, case investigations, outbreak investigations, implementation of control measures to interrupt disease transmission or mitigate adverse health impacts, and planned studies of important public health problems in the assigned counties. The incumbent utilizes public health surveillance data to improve community health through communication and collaboration. The position provides leadership, direction, and epidemiologic capacity during public health investigations, and is involved in forming partnerships to increase the capacity of the health department to monitor, improve, and maintain community health.

Reportable disease surveillance, investigation, management, and reporting:

• Conducts notifiable disease surveillance, investigation, and reporting.
• Interviews patients by telephone, or when necessary, conducts field visits for interviews.
• Contacts physician offices, labs, hospitals, and clients in gathering information to complete a case report. Provides basic information on reporting to physician office or clinics when appropriate.
• Collects specimens in the field when necessary.
• Educates client, family members and contacts regarding reportable diseases, disease process and transmission and control measures.
• Establishes and maintains active contact with health care providers; exploring innovative methods to assure accurate and complete reporting of reportable diseases and conditions.
• Assists with reportable disease outbreaks/epidemics effectively utilizing County, Regional, State and CDC resources.

Surveillance:

• Works to increase local capacity for disease surveillance by designing, implementing, and maintaining surveillance systems for both communicable and chronic diseases using existing sources of data as well as determining new sources of incidence, prevalence, and risk factor data. Systems will rely on spatial and temporal statistical methods. GIS analysis and other appropriate methods to systematically monitor community health.
• Conducts periodic monitoring and reporting on disease and risk factor trends within the county, including but not limited to the leading causes to morbidity and mortality and periodic distribution of information via internal and external reports in various formats (reports, monthly external reports).
• Utilizes ESSENCE to monitor community health trends, detect any disease or syndrome clusters and to identify additional or unreported cases of notifiable diseases through syndromic surveillance.

Public Health Investigations:

• Conducts epidemiology investigations of high priority public health issues and significant disease outbreaks, coordinating with Administrators/Medical Director, Environmental Health, Nursing Directors, and other DOH staff to investigate and respond to public health threats.
• Shares responsibility for communicating with media and the general public on issues of epidemiology, surveillance, and disease investigation.
• Deployments to other counties at the request of County Health Systems in support of public health investigations.

Works closely with local healthcare agencies and other public health partners to ensure appropriate disease/infection prevention and control measures.

Provides both formal and informal training to DOH staff and community healthcare providers related to reportable disease control, surveillance, investigation, and reporting.

Acts as alternate main point of contact between the states Bureau of Epidemiology and the local CHD on issues of epidemiology (surveillance and disease investigation).

Other Related duties:

• Timely accurate completion of EARs, timesheets, time summaries and trainings in compliance with local agency requirements.
• Emergency duty including but not limited to shelter duty as assigned.
• Implement, monitor, and improve the local CHO performance snapshot core epidemiology composite performance measures.
• Epidemiologic analyses and projects as assigned by County health department leadership.
• Attends team meetings, health department staff meetings.
• Participates in staff development activities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college of university with a major in one of the physical or natural sciences, environmental health, public health, or engineering or four years of related professional experience
• Florida Driver’s License required.

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Marathon or Key West, FL CHD

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. As an OPS employee, the benefits below are available:

• State of Florida 401(a) FICA Alternative Plan (mandatory)
• Participation in state group insurance (upon meeting eligibility requirements.  Consult with People First and/or the serving HR office)
• Workers’ Compensation (mandatory, if needed)
• Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Compensation) (mandatory, if needed)
• Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Employee Assistance Program (voluntary)
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.